Pump for oil-wells.



- PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

A. G. WLLARD.

PUMP FOR UIL WELLS. APrLIoATIon 121mm un s, 19'05.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR G. WILLARD,

PATENT OFFICE.

WORKS, A CORPORATIONOOF CALIFORNIA,

Pulte renom-WELLS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

appunti nua my s, 190s. sum No. 259,251.

To all 'whom 'it 'ma-y concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. WILLABD, a citizen of the United States of America, residat-Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and tate of California., have invented certain 'Improvements in Pumps for Oil-Wells, of which the following is a specification.

, Heretofore the pumping of oil wells in southern California has involved great difli.

reason of the presence culty and expense by in the wells, in com ination with heavy ashaltum oils, of water and sand carried therethe latter causing the rapid Wearing away of valve seats and valves; some of the sand being of so fine a nature that it finds its way between the working barrel' and the plunger, thus rapidly -wea away the same, and making the pump use ess. In order to avoid this wearing away of the plunger and-barrel it is necessary to provide at the upper portion of the working barrel a packing around the plunger throu h which the plunger may work'and whirl-ii will exclude sand from between the plunger and the working barrel.

A further difficulty arises, however, which has heretofore prevented the use of any known packing around the plunger, and through which the lunger would work,

which would thus exc ude the sand from theV working barrel; that is to say, the sand accumulates sometimes with great rapidity above the standing valve, thus necessitating frequent withdrawals of the plunger and the standing valve to a position in the pump where the oil above the same can rush downward to flush out such accumulations, and with the packing heretofore known it has been found impossibleto return the vplunger to the working barrel* for the reason that l the downward rush of oil and accumulations displaces the packing, so that before the pump can again be operatedi'the tubing in barrel must be/withdrawn 1n order to relnsert the plunger in the working barrel, andrepack the same.

An object of my invention is to provide an oil-well pump which avoids the difficulties and expense above referred to.

A further object of the invention is to ro.- vide a new construction of wor barre for oil-well pumps, whereby the wor 'ng barrel can be packed and assembled ready for the l field independently 'of the plunger and the welltubing, andcan be shipped to the field and can there be installed-by theworkmen,

and after bein placed in the well can be fitted with the unger without inconvenience or loss of time, y simply running the plunger down the tubing, through the packing and into the working barrel. The construction of plunger and standing valve adapted for this purpose is common, and may be-understood by reference to the patent to Frank A. Garbutt, Number 586,707, dated July 20, V1897.

My invention comprisesa working barrel for an oil-well pump, having two elongated' bores of different diameters, the larger lbeing topmost; a lunger in said bores, metallic rings in the arger of said bores, and means operableby the pressure of the liquid above said rings to temporarily contract said metallic rin against the plunger so long as sufficient 'quidis above said rings. The construction b which this is accomplished consists in sp it metallic rings that are coneshaped vat their ends, and another ring or rings subject to the pressure exerted by the Jliquid, having flaring ends to fit on the conical ends of the split rings, all of such rings being freely lnovable in said larger bore, so that when the pressure ofthe liquid comes upon the uppermost ring the several split rings are compressed to tightly fit the plun. ger, thus excluding the sand from the straight elo ated tubular portion of the barrel in whic i the plunger works.

In order to make the barrel adaptable for assemblage at the machine shop, thence to be shipped to the field, screwed onto the tubing and inserted into the well, and to `allow the standing-"alve and plunger to then be inserted through the same, the u per ring which is to receive the ressure of t ie liquid,

made flaring upwardly, portion of the working barrel is -internally grooved, and a resilient ring is inserted into the groove after the packing rings have been placed, all of which will hereinafter 'appear more fully.y y

' The'invention consists further in the conl structions and'combinations of parts hereinafter described and articularly pointed out i in the claims, and wi l be more readily under- 'istood by reference to the accom anying i drawings forming part of this speci cation,

and in which i Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view of the pump embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a l vertical, sectional view showing the same inclined so as to provide a seat 8 portion? of the working barrel, is a side a well casing. the plunger of the pump and the metallic packing rings and valve cages being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a ierspective view of thc retaining device for holding the metallic packing rings` in position. Fig. 4 is avpcrspective view of one of the solid metallic packing rings. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one ofthe split metallic packing rings.

A valuable part of this invention is the new forni of working-barrel which comprises two screw-threaded connections a, I), forniiiig the ends of the working-barrel, a iiiain portion c, and an enlarged portion 7, a slantiiig shoulder S being between these two portions for the purpose hereinafter to be ex plaiiied, and an annular seat d being provided at the top of the enlargedportion 7 for the purpose hereinafterto be explained. An .advantage gained by constructing the barrel in this way is that provision niay be inade for a stroke of the plunger much longer than the length of the working-barrel, by siiiiplv connecting to the lower end of the barrel av section of pipe 4 to hold the standingr valve-5; it only being necessary in actual practice to bore out the working-barrel, and this may readily lbe renewed from time to time without. the necessity of renewing the other parts which are connected thereto. That is to say, iii actual practice, the connection 4 does not have to be bored out, and it is not. subject to wear, but it is desirable that the plunger of the pump shall run down into `the saine, thus iving the length of stroke re( uired. By 't ie novel construction of barrel lierein set forth, I niake provision whereby the necessary working fit on the plunger can be insured at the least expense and inconvenience.

As shown in the drawings, 2 vis a well cas ing, and 3 the 'working barrel of the pump which, as shown, is connected at itsbottoni with the section 4 in which is mounted the standing valve 5 of the ordinary or any re-V ferred construction. Below the stan ing valve is an ordinary perforated pipe 6 for the inlet of oil to the interior of the working barrel. The upper endof the working barrel 3 is of greater diameter than the niain portion of the working barrel, and the interior surface, where the enlarged upper'portion 7 merges into the niain working barrel 3,`is infor the lower lnetallie packing ring. Q

Mounted on the seat 8 inside the expanded metallic packing ring'r 9. In the drawings', ,this packing ring is shown as split and having a beveled lower edge l0, the. bevel of the lower edge 10 corresponding to the inclination of the seat 8.

l1 represents an lintegra-l metallic packing ring, the lower edge of 'which is inwardly beveled as at. 12 to correspond with the bevelof the upper edge of the split ring 9, so that is provided above said uppermost so the ring 11 seats on the ring 9, and the exer- -tion of pressure on the ring 11 tends to close the split rine' 9. There may be any suitable number of alternate rings 9, 1 1. In the drawings I have shown three pairs of such rings. At the upper end of the enlarged portion 7 of the working barrel, I provide an annular groove or channel in which is seated a split retaining ring 13, by iiieans of which the packing rings are held from movenientwith the punip plunger. Owing to the retaining ring 13 being above the uppermost packing ring, said retaining ring may be easily inserted into the groove after the packing rings are all in place.

14 represents the sucker rod which extends up through the casing, and is connected with the walking beam or other reciprocating means, not shown. Thef'lower end of the sucker rod .14 is connected with the valve cage 15, which niay be of the ordinary or any preferred construction. This valve cage is in turn connected in the usual manner with the puiiip plunger 16.v This plunger extends through the packing rings 9, l1, and tlirou h the working barrel 3, there being a close wor ing tit between' the out-er surface of the plunger 16 and the interior of the working barrel 3. 17, 17' represent ball valves of the ordinary or any preferred construction.

As shown niost clearly in Fig. 5, the rings 9 are preferably split by a split or cut extending inwardly from each end, the longitudinal cuts thus formed overlapping and being connected near the middle portion of the overlap by a horizontal ortion of the'cut. This construction roviiles pockets 18 in which any sand or so id matter may collect, thereby preventingthe crossing of such sand or solid matter throu h the horizontal ortion of the cut over to t e lower lo itutfinal cut, and thence down in between t e solid rings and the plunger, as might occur when the solid rings have been long in use, as said solid rings do not contract to takev up the wear.

`The horizontal portion of the cut or split in .the split ringswill remain open unless uneven pressure is applied to the end of the ring. In such case the horizontal part of vthe split may close up, the op osite walls thereof abutting against each ot er so as to prevent the ringfrom being twisted out of shape, which might occur if the split did not have a horizontally-extendingportion.

19 designates the tubing of the pum the saine bein screwed into the enlarge portion 7 of t. ie working barrel. By reason of the uppermost solid ring 11 being beveled at the top along its inner edge an open s ace 20 lid ring ll and coniiiinnicating with the interior of the" tubing below the plunger valve 1,5, whereby the weight of the liquid in the tubing will be applied directly to the up ieriiiost ring and cause the split rings to he coinbarrel havi pressed upon the plunger. The retaining ring 13 forms a convenient means for stopin the packing rings from be' drawn up by 'ction of the plunger, but I o not limit myself to the exact construction showp in an ofthe views.

yfprovididg the alternate split and solid metallic packing rings 9 and 11, and providing the upper'edge of the split rings with a bevel over which the lower edges of the solid rings fit, the weight o f the fluid on the top metallic l'ing causes the solid metallic ring or rings to bear down upon the split Vring or rings and to close the split ring or rings about the plunger, and to maintain a close working fit between the outer surface of the plunger and the interior of the split rings; thus automatically takin up any loosenesstherebetween, efectual y preventing any sand and water working between the split' rings and the 'surface of the plunger.

Pumps f this style have been in actual use in wells, and have demonstrated that by thus constructing the pump, the life of the working barrel and plunger is many times increased. l

ln considering this invention with relation to acking rings used in steam engines, it is to lie noted that there Vis a difference in the character of the devices and of the work toV be performed. That'the metallic packing rings I have shown for a deep `well pump depend entirely upon the wei lit of the fluid for closing the rings around t ie plunger, and

that the inetallicrings used in st eam engines and steam pumps necessarily require a gland to compress Suc by the aid of studs or bolts. Suc studs or bolts, or like means cannot be employed, for this purpose in deep well pumps.

This invention includes the several parts and combinations of parts by which the pur;y

poses of my invention are attained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Lette Patent v l. An oil pump comprising a working barrel, a hollow plunger therein, a sucker rod connected with the said plunger. a standing valve and cage, a valve and cage at the upper end of said plunger, alternate split and solid packing rings upon said plunger at the upper end of said working barrel, said split `rings having their upper edges beveled, and said solid rings having inwardly-tapering sockets in their lower ends and adapted to lit over and compress `said split a rtion of the split extending horizonta y o the split rings and leaving a pocket at the end of a longitudinal portionof the split, and means for holding said packing rings in fixed relation to said working barrel.

2. An oil pump comprising a working an expau ed upperportion, alternate split and solid metalic packing rings around the iston rodY infixed relation to said wor rings mounted in said expanded portion, the solid rings iit over and ein racing the u per edges of tie-split rings and adapted w en pressure is applied to the to cause the sp it to contract, a plunger working through sai rings and working barrel, valve cages, a sucker rod, means for holding said packing in fixed relationt-o said working barrel, said 'split rings having ockets for preventing solid matter passing t rough the split portion of said split rings.

3. A pump provided with a s )lit packingring, and ymeans for causing sai ring to contract, the split in said ring comprising longitudinal cuts connected by a horizontal cut,

said horizontal cut being arranged with relation to a lon 'tudinal cut to leave a pocket at the end o said longitudinal cut..

4. A deep Ywell oil pump comprising a working barrel and plunger, elastic and inelastic packing rings alternately arranged in said barrel,.the inelastic rings being Vabove and tending to compress the elastic rings v around the plunger, and elastic means at the top for retaining said rings.

5. A pum provided 'with a split packing ring, the split in said comprising longitudinal cuts connected by a horizontal cut, said horizontal cut being arranged with relation to a lo at the end o said longitudinal cut.

6. A pump comprising upright tubing; a working barrel fastened to the tubing and provided below the tubing with an enlar ed portion; a standing valve, a valved hol ow plunger in the working barrel above the standing valve; packing rings around the plunger inthe enlarged portion of the barrel, the uppermost being solid and other rings eing split an tapered for compression on the plunger, a rtion ofthe split extending horizontally o the rings leaving an opening at the end of the longitudinal portion of the split, an open spacebeing provided above the uppermost solid ring, the same communieating with the interior of the tubing below the slunger n valve whereby the weight of liqui in the tubing will cause the split rings to be compressed upon the plunger.

7. A deep well oil pump comprising upright tubing; a working barrel fastened 'to the tubing and provided below Ythe tubing with an enlarged r tion; a stan valve, a valved hollow p nnger in the workingbarrel above the standing valve, packingrings around the plunger in the enlarged rtion of the barrel, means for holding sai( packing king barrel,

the u perinost being solid and other rings split grill tapered for compression on the plunger, an open space being rovided above the uppermost solid ring, t e same communicating with the interior of the tubing below the plunger-valve, and a stop above said ring to prevent the same from 'tudinal cut to leave a pocket being drawn upward by the friction of the plunger.

8. In a deep well oil ump provided with a sand excluder, the combination of a barrel, a plurality of plunger encircling members therein havi g slots and compressible in the direction of said slots, said members being alternately spaced by a vplurality of solid rings arranged above the compressible members respectively, said solid rings and compressible members being provided with corresponding bevel faces whereby to snugly engage each other, means for retaining said rings in position, the upper end of the uppermost o said rings being free in the open barrel of the pump to receive the pressure of the liquid from the same, and a plunger in said barrel extending'through the packing rings to produce a vacuum therebelow.

9. A set of metallic packing ringsfor deep wel] pumps, or working barrels; the set to consist of two or more rings,l one or more of said rings being split; means for compressing the split rings tightly about the plunger by utilizing the downward pressure of the liquid in the tubing.

10. A ump, or working-barrel having a tubular p unger, and'provlded with a set of packing rin s at the up er end ofsaid pump or workingarrel; the arrel being counterbored from the u per end to admit the rings; a portion of sai rings beingsplit to enable them to contract; said rings so arra ed by means .of concaved and convexed en( s that by utilizing the weight of the iluid in the tubing resting on the upper ring, the split rings compress tightly about the plu er.

11. A pump, or working-barre a tubular plunger; the usual valve at the upper end of the plunger, and at the lower end of the pump a set of metallic packing rings; means or holding the rings in place; means for compressing the rings about the plunger by utilizing the pressure, or weight of liquid in the tubing, thereby prevent' the usual wear or cutting of pum by sai 12. A workingbarrelpfor an oil-Well pump having two elongated bores of diierent diameters with a bevel shoulder sloping downward between the same, an internal annular groove near the top of the larger bore, a plurality of metallic packing rings slidable in said lar er bore, a ring in saidgroove to ref tain sail packing rings and means operable y Vthe pressure of liquid in the top of said larger bore to temporarily contract the rings.

13. A working barrel for an oil-well pum having two elongated bores of different d1- ameters, the larger being top-most, a plunger in said bores, metallic rings in the larger of said bores, and means operable by the pressure of the liquid to tem )orarily contract said metallic rings Iagainst t 1e plunger.

14. A deep well oil pump provided with a sand excluder consisting of a plurality of plunger-encircling members having slots and compressible in the direction of said slots, said members being altemately spaced by a plurality of solid rings, arranged above the. com ressible members, respectively, said soli rings and compressible members being provided with corresponding beveled faces whereby to snugly engage each other, the upper end of the uppermost of said rings being free in the open barrel of the )ump to receive the pressure of the liquid rom the same, and a plunger in said barrel extending through the packing rings to produce a vacuum therebelow.

15. A deep well oil pump and sand excluder therefor com rising in combination, a barrel, a plurality of) lunger encircling members therein having slbts and com )ressible in the direction of said slots, said members being alternately siaced by a plurality of. solid rings arrange above the compressible members respectively, said solid rings and compressible members being provided with corresponding beveled faces whereby to snugly engage each other, and means for re taining said rings in position, the upper end of the up ermost of said rings being free in the cpen barrel of the pump to receive the pressure of the liquid from the same, and a plunger said barrel extending through the packln rings.

16. working barrel having two elongated 4bores of different diameters and terminating at its ends in screw-threaded portions, and provided near the top of the larger bore with an internalannular roove, tapered split packing rings in said arger bore, a ring on top of said split packing rings to cause the same to contract when pressure is a plied to said ring, and an elastic ring in said) groove.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 29th day of April, 1905.

ARTHUR G. WILLARD. In presence of FREDERICK S. LYON,

JULIA TowNsENn.

lOl) 

